Matthias Van Till was the First Sea Lord and Prime Minister of the Anglo-Dutch Union during the majority of the Anglo-Dutch Civil War up until his death in the battle of Scarpa Flow. He was also married to Princess (later Queen) Beatrix for the last year of his life and is the father of the current heir to the Dutch Throne, Princess Elena. Despite his support and marriage to the Queen he remained a prominent republican throughout his life refusing to take any titles and only agreeing to marry the princess after being promised that he would retain his military position.